ONE IN four (28pc) internet users globally are illegally accessing music through unauthorised sites every month, according to a new report.

Despite the growth in popularity and availability of legal digital music services, such as Spotify, in 2011, piracy is still rife, with 28pc of internet users using music pirate sites every month. The annual digital music report published by the IFPI complied the data and said the abundance of people still accessing music illegally, was “jeopardising investment in music” and “rigging the market for legitimate music services”.

The report cites the French government’s anti-piracy ‘Hadopi’ law, (three strikes and out” legislation which temporarily disconnects repeat filesharers’ internet connections) as a success – having boosted the sale of music via legal services such as Apple’s iTunes.

The digital music report also found, that despite the continued popularity of illegal downloading, 32pc of the record labels’ global revenue now comes from digital sales, which is an all-time high for the music industry.

Furthermore digital music revenues are up 8pc to $5.2bn (€3.9bn).

Frances Moore, CEO of IFPI, said: “As we enter 2012, there are good reasons for optimism in the world of digital music. Legal services with expanding audiences have reached across the globe and consumer choice has been revolutionised. Meanwhile momentum is building in the fight against piracy as governments and a growing circle of intermediaries engage with our industry.

“Any complacency now, however, would be a great mistake. Our digital business is progressing in spite of the environment in which it operates, not because of it. In 2012 the momentum needs to build further. We need legislation from governments with coordinated measures that deal with piracy effectively and in all its forms. We also need more cooperation from online intermediaries such as search engines and advertisers to support the legal digital music business.”